Sea container, air cargo shipping from China to Chile

China-Chile bilateral economic relations have advanced significantly ever since diplomatic relations started in 1970. Chile has become China’s 3rd largest trading partner in Latin America, following Brazil and Mexico.
In November 2006, China-Chile Free Trade Agreement came into force. In March 2019, upgraded FTA came into force after 1 year and a half’s time of negotiation. China-Chile trade reached record high in 2021.
Chile’s major exports to China are mineral and forestry products like copper, fruits, and seafood. China’s key exports to Chile are textiles, light industrial products, electronic and machinery products.

Explore a full guide into shipping from China to Chile. If you are an importer from Chile, keep reading. We’ll cover as many aspects as possible, which you may encounter when doing business with China, shipping method, timing, costs, how to choose the best way to ship, and how a freight forwarder can help with your China-Chile shipment. 

Sea freight and air freight are the most common shipping methods from China to Chile. There are many international freight forwarding companies that offer container shipping and air cargo transport services, but we can do more. It’s vital to work with a freight forwarder who understands your needs and always carries out the best tailored shipping solution from China to Chile.

Sea freight from China to Chile

If you are on a budget, looking for the least expensive way of shipping your goods from China to Chile, sea freight is the affordable solution. Sea cargo is often shipped in containers with container ships, sometimes with bulk ships or RO-RO ships. Low cost is one of its feature, and due to its large shipping capacity, sea freight is able to transport goods in bulk quantity and cargo of large size or overweight. What’s more, almost everything can be shipped by sea, even those classified as dangerous goods by airlines and railway. In a word, sea freight is economically and environmentally superior to other modes of shipping, especially over long distance for goods in bulk or equipment of large size. 

FCL (Full container load): shipping a container filled with goods exclusively for one client from China to Chile. Generally, we offer FCL shipping service to Chile with 20ft container and 40ft container (20GP, 40GP and 40HQ). FCL is more cost efficient.
LCL (Less than container load): Sharing a container with other clients who have cargo to the same destination, at the same time. Naturally, due to extra work (consolidation, de-consolidation, warehousing, paperwork, etc.), the final cost on each unit is higher than FCL, and shipping takes longer. LCL is a good choice for small business to start with. If you don’t have enough cargo to fill an entire container, our consolidation (LCL shipping) service from China to Chile is always available.

Besides regular FCL, LCL shipments, if you are shipping large, heavy project cargo from China to Chile, we’d recommend flat rack or open top container solution. When shipping temperature-sensitive products, we can provide reefer container solution. For large and bulk shipments, vehicles and wheeled cargo, breakbulk and RO-RO ships are the answer. 

As a leading China based freight forwarder serving Chile, we have presence covering all the major Chinese ports, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Tianjin, Dalian, etc.
We offer port to port, door to port and door to door freight solutions from China to Chile, depending on your specific requirements. With our door-to-door service, considering the final destination, we’ll transport your cargo via the most convenient port in Chile, such as San Antonio, Valparaiso, Iquique, Antofagasta, Coronel, Punta Arenas, Arica, San Vicente, etc. 

If you are looking to ship containers or other shipments from China to Chile by sea, we got the one-stop solution for you. Request a quote from us.

Major ports in Chile

San Antonio
Located on the shores of central Chile, it is nearest to the country’s capital, Santiago.
Port of San Antonio is the largest and busiest port in Chile, ranking 13th busiest in South America.
Annual container traffic over 1.7 million TEU

Valparaiso
The Port of Valparaiso is located in the city of the same name in the Region of Valparaiso, Chile. 
It is the port with the highest passenger arrivals in the country and second by container traffic, after San Antonio, handing about 30% of the country’s foreign trade.

Coronel
Port of Coronel is situated in the Coronel Bay, about 30 km south of  Concepción, at the Gulf of Arauco, which is about 400 km south of the capital Santiago de Chile in Chile. It has been in operation since 1996 as an export port for break-bulk forest products.

Arica
Arica is an important port for a large inland region of South America, like Bolivia.

Iquique
Port of Iquique, one of the most historical ports in Chile.

Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is the world's southernmost city and the capital of Chile's Patagonia.

Other ports include Antofagasta, San Vicente, etc. 

Air Freight from China to Chile

If your supply chain has a robust enough shipping budget and requires a rapid transit from China to Chile, air freight is the right choice for your business. Maybe you choose air freight to accelerate a delayed project by reducing the shipping time, maybe you are simply having a pressing deadline, or the cargo itself is perishable, can’t wait one month travelling across the ocean from China to Chile. Whatever it is, it’s the one solution when time is more important than cost. Another advantage is, shipping by air is ensured a higher level of security, that’s why most people prefer air freight when shipping high-value products from China to Chile.

We have developed strong relationships with major air carriers and established a vast network of air cargo transportation, offering daily and weekly cargo flights from China’s main airports to Chile. 
When shipping by air with us, we provide the best shipping solution and the fastest route which meets your needs and guarantees a relatively cost-efficient way. 
Flying your cargo with us gives you peace of mind as we take care of your air shipments from pick-up till delivery to the destination, overseeing every link of the logistics chain.
Our shipping options include airport-to-airport, door-to-airport and door-to-door services from China to Chile.

Unlike sea freight, there are quite a lot of products rejected by airlines, some may be dangerous goods, and some may be too large to fit in the cargo plane. 
Consult our team if you are looking for air shipping service from China to Chile, get a shipping solution and cost from us. 

Main airports in Chile

Santiago
Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (IATA CODE: SCL)
Largest and busiest airport in Chile, and the main gateway for air cargo into Chile
SCL Airport is a hub for LATAM, Sky Airline and JetSmart. LATAM operates approximately 82% of the airport’s commercial operations. 

Antofagasta
Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport (IATA CODE: ANF)
Antofagasta international airport is an airport serving Antofagasta, capital of the Antofagasta Region of Chile

How long does it take to ship from China to Chile?

Shipping from China to Chile takes 35-45 days by sea, and 3-7 days by air. The actual transit time may vary depending on the service and route chosen, weather, terminal congestion, off-season/peak-season change, etc. 

China-Chile sea freight transit time

The transit time of shipping a container from China to Chile ranges from 35 to 45 days, port to port. 

POL (port of loading)	POD (port of discharge)	Transit time
Shanghai	San Antonio	36 days
Shanghai	Valparaiso	38 days
Shenzhen	San Antonio	38 days
Shenzhen	Valparaiso	42 days
Qingdao	San Antonio	38 days
Qingdao	Valparaiso	42 days

Container shipping transit time by sea from China to San Antonio and Valparaiso, Chile
FYI: The transit time by sea, port to port, depends on the specific origin and destination ports chosen, service route, sailing schedule and choice on carrier.
Shanghai in East China, Shenzhen South China, and Qingdao North China, data from these 3 ports is enough to demonstrate the sea shipping time from China to Chile.
Above transit time is for full container load shipping, port to port only, for LCL shipping time estimate, pls add 7-10 days.

China-Chile air shipping transit time

Depending on the chosen service and flight route, an air shipment from China to Chile usually takes 3-7 days. 
Due to the long distance, there are not direct flight routes connecting Chinese cities and Chilean cities, all passenger and cargo flights will transfer in the US or Europe before flying to Chile. 

If you have an urgent order, make sure you contact us and get the fastest service and route for your China-Chile shipment. Get an air shipping solution and freight quote from us.

Best way to ship goods from China to Chile

Looking for the best way to ship goods from China to Chile? There’s no simple answer, each shipment is different, and the shipping market is fast changing. But the best result always remains the same: fast and safe delivery of shipment at the minimum shipping cost possible.   To decide the best shipping solution under the circumstance, a freight forwarder will take the below factors into consideration.
1.The type of goods and its value
2.How quickly you need your goods
3.The load of your goods (size, weight, quantity) or simply share the packing list
4.Supplier address (origin seaport/airport), delivery address (destination seaport/airport)
5.Your budget
6.Goods ready time
Facing so many changes and uncertainties, the best way is to rely on a reputable and experienced freight forwarder for their expertise and experience to work out the best shipping solution tailored to your needs.
Get in touch with us by submitting these details, and start a stress-free shipping experience from China to Chile with us. Request a quote from us.

How much does shipping from China to Chile cost?

Shipping from China to Chile used to cost $1000-2000/40ft container, and shipping rates went up 7-8 times higher after the COVID pandemic. Air shipping market is disrupted as well. 
It’s impossible to provide a general estimate of shipping cost from China to Chile. 
1.    Each shipment is different, and clients may have various requirements under some specific circumstances. 
2.    The shipping market is fast changing, sea and air freight rates fluctuate frequently, affected by seasonal and strategic adjustment by carriers, as well as by law of supply and demand. The year-on-year difference could be drastic, and price for last week may not be valid for this week. 
3.    Timing requirement also influences the shipping cost, the faster you wish to receive the shipment, the more money you’ll have to spend on shipping. 
Knowing the shipping cost is essential to business if you are importing goods from China to Chile. Shipping cost is an indispensable, and sometimes could be a large percentage of the final landed cost of imported goods. 
Contact us now to obtain a tailored shipping solution and the latest shipping cost from China to Chile.

Freight forwarder shipping from China to Chile

China is home to many worldwide suppliers, yet shipping from China isn’t always straightforward.
Dealing with shipment from China to Chile yourself is time-consuming and requires certain expertise, why not leave it to a professional freight forwarder?  

Everybody’s got his specialty and expertise. Using an experienced freight forwarder to handle your shipments from China to Chile allows you to focus more on your main business, to bring the best out of you. With the help of a professional freight forwarding team, your shipment will be well planned and carried out smoothly, avoiding delay and potential extra charges, and freight management made easier than ever.  

As one of the top China based freight forwarders serving Chile, we have the knowledge, expertise and experience to provide the most accurate answers and optimal shipping solutions tailored to your needs. Leave it to the expert, and you are freed from all the troubles and complexity of shipping and logistics.  

Door to door shipping from China to Chile

Additionally, we have reps in Chile and have been working with other local Chilean freight forwarders as well. By combining our freight forwarding services with their networks, we present clients the easiest one-stop door to door shipping solution from China to Chile. Whether by sea or by air, door to door shipping from China to Chile is easy with us.

How to ship from China to Chile

Step 1: Contact a freight forwarder; a China based one is preferred.
You may reach out to a freight forwarder either from China or in Chile, while a Chilean forwarder is most likely to rely on a Chinese local shipping agent. So working directly with a China freight forwarder is more straightforward, as the majority of complexities and uncertainties of international cargo shipping lie in origin, not in destination.
More on “Why you should work with a local China freight forwarder”
Step 2: Provide shipment details and get a shipping quote from China
Step 3: Connect forwarder with supplier, forwarder does his job
Step 4: Get cargo insurance (optional)
Step 5: Arrange customs clearance
Or you can just use us for stress-free door to door shipping service from China to Chile.

Why us when importing and shipping from China to Chile

We are China based freight forwarder specialized and experienced in international logistics for China-Chile import & export business. Through years of effort on China-Latin America trade lane, we have developed service agreements with the best sea and air shipping carriers. This allows us to offer various shipping solutions, routes and schedules from China to Chile at fair rates with space guarantee especially in peak seasons. 
1. Quick Response, high efficiency
2. Communication
3. Professionalism, agility, accuracy
4. Our logistics expertise, local and global connections
5. Cost-saving
6. Dedicated, focused
7. Higher attention & tailored shipping solution
More on Why us when importing and shipping from China to Chile

As one of the leading China based freight forwarder serving Chile, we have the logistics expertise and experience to fulfill a fast and safe delivery of shipment from China to Chile. We are dedicated to simplifying and improving your supply chain. Whatever you are shipping from China to Chile, standard sea container, air cargo, refrigerated or oversized cargo, we got you covered.

If you are considering shipping from China to Chile (San Antonio, Santiago, Valparaiso, Iquique, Antofagasta, Coronel, Punta Arenas, Arica, San Vicente, etc.) whether by sea or air, contact us for the best-in-class shipping experience. Request a quote now for your China-Chile shipment.